1st of 10 US Army Mobile Tower System delivered

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) delivered the first Mobile Tower System (MOTS) to the United States Army.

“This first production delivery from SNC marks a major milestone for the MOTS program. Once fielded, MOTS will enable improved maintainability along with a higher operational readiness for our air traffic controllers supporting aircraft movement at airfields around the world,” said COL Jerry Davis, Army project manager, Aviation Systems.

The MOTS is a rapidly deployable Air Traffic Control (ATC) system with secure and non-secure communications radios and support equipment. The modular MOTS includes an ATC Tower with organic 18kW power generators, a medium intensity solar powered airfield runway lighting system, and meteorological sensors.

MOTS is capable of being airlifted by C-17 aircraft or by CH-47 helicopter and supports military ATC operations by networking with other Air Traffic Service (ATS) and Battle Command (BC) systems. The MOTS complies with Federal Aviation Administration/International Civilian Aviation Organization regulations, and is also equally adept in supporting civilian applications, including disaster relief efforts, forest fire mobile operations, and temporary tower operations anywhere in the world, with minimal logistical requirements.

The new AN/MSQ-135 MOTS will replace the Army’s aging AN/TSW-7A air traffic control tower. The MOTS system will also provide a world-wide deployable ATC capability to U.S. Army Aviation.